Syringe



Jan. 17, 1950, A. E. SMITH 2,495,027

SYRINGE Filed July 25, 1947 Patented Jan. 17, 1950 'U N ITED ES PAT ENT OSF Fil CE vSYRINGE ArthurElSmitmLos Angeles, Calif.

ApplicationJuly. .25, 1947, SerialNo. 763,571.

11'1Cla`ims. 1

This inventionfrelates to.y syringes.

The general object of the. inventionvisrto Lprovide an improved, syringe of thedisposable type which is useful for the .injection of medicinal preparations.

A more specific object ofrmyrinven-tion is to vprovide a novel plunger` for use.in,adisposable syringe.

Another objectoffthe invention is to. provide a syringe including .a plunger-and `wherein .the plunger hasnovel meansthereon for.v supporting a hypodermicneedle.

Further objects `and advantages of. .my invention will be,V apparent irom the Afollowingdescription taken in connection. `with fthe.. accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 isla sideelevationof-a syringe showing my invention;

Fig. Zis an extendedsideelevatiorrshowing-uthe parts constituting my syringe;

Fig. 3 is Aan enlarged fragmentary, central sectional viewv showingm'y syringe;` g

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary yiew showing the end. of the plunger when thesyringe ,is ready-forum;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig.r2,.showing.a modification;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged. fragmentary.,` sectional view, yshowing the inner.A endet the-plunger with the piston stopper removed;

Fig. 8 is a View similarxto Fig.; showing a further modification, and

Fig. 9 is an. enlarged,` fragmentary sectional View ofv the device. `'shown in Fig- -8f and-showing the forward endfof` thepl-unger and the piston stopper.

Referring to the. drawngzby reference characters, I have shown-my invention. as. embodied in a syringe which isf-.indicated generally/at I0. As shown the syringe'includes an ampu'le orxbarrel I I, which'may befmadeof plastic-andwhi-ch is cylindricaland hasva .stopper 1.2.,which may lbe* 2|] on the forward portion. .fIhe1 threads` 201 pref-V..

` erably have steeply inclinedforward faces 2l and l er.

rear faces 22 which are substantially perpendicular to the axis of: the plunger. The plunger inlcludes an axial bore v.23 which extends therethrough and its outer end isenlarged to form-a square recess 24.

In theampule I- arrange a cylindrical piston stopper 25 which, as shown, has a bulbous. front end 26 which is recessed as at v21 at .its inner end, and at its outer end, has a recessY 281Which is threaded with threads .of the same shape as the threads 2Upreviously described. .A diaphragm 29 separates the recess .21 -from the-threaded .recess 28.

Arranged within the bore 23. I showal hypodermic needle 30 which has asharpened .rearend 3'I and a sharpened front end.32.. The needle includes a rectangular protuberance 33, which may front member 35 includes a .recess 38` in which the forward end of the plunger I8 is seated as shown in Fig. 3. The front member. -tip-36 includesa bore MI: through which the forwardendv of the needle extends.

The front member 35may be made ofV material such' as rubber, .similar to the .stopper I2.. while the plunger I8 may-be made of plastic such as that of which the barrel I I;is constructed.

In use the piston stopperV and the stopper I2 are arranged in the ampulelv II in close-relation. A

hypodermic needle is thenzinser-ted4 through the diaphragm I6 andmaterialis run into .the ampule, forcing the piston stopper away from the stopper I2 until the, required I amount of material is in the ampule,whereupon. the needle is withdrawn from. thediaphragm I6 and the hole sealsitself, -due to the resiliency of the material.

The needle 30is rthen inserted inthe bore 23 of the plunger with the protuberance 33in the recess 24 and the plungeris moved to the position shown in Fig. 3, with the forward end. 45 of the plunger against a shoulder 4'6 on the front' member. The resiliencylof. the4 materialof the. front member holds the plunger I8 on.. the front member 35. The plunger isthentlireaded into the recess 28 until the forward tip 3 Ion the. needle 3|] is closely adjacent to, but doesnot enter or pierce, the diafphragm 29. In .this` condition the syringe is packaged and. shipped. To prepare the syringe'foruse the ampule I I is grasped and the front member 35 is turned, thus causing the threads on the plunger to move further into the threaded recess on the piston stopper. The piston stopper, due to its frictional engagement with the walls of the ampule, do not rotate within the ampule and thus slowly the pointed tip 3l on the needle pierces the diaphragm 29 until the parts assume the position shown in Fig. 4, where the tip 3l is exposed in the ampule, and thus the needle is placed in communication with the contents of the ampule. A tip 45, which may be made of transparent, flexible material, engages the tapered tip of this front member to maintain the parts in sterile condition. Y

In use the tip 45 is removed and the' plunger is rotated to place the syringe in working conv dition, as described, and the injection is made. 'Ihe plunger is slightly advanced and is then withdrawn to determine by the absence or presence of blood in the ampule whether a blood vessel has been pierced. If blood is present, indicating that blood vessel has been pierced, the needle is withdrawn and reinserted properly and the injection is made.

In Figs. 5, 6 and 7 I show modifications of my invention wherein the ampule Il is similar to the ampule Il, previously described, while the plunger I8 is similar to the previously described plunger I8, as is the front member 35' in the modication. In this modication the forward end of the threaded portion I9 of the plunger tapers forwardly as at 5D and is provided with a sharpened bevelled end 5 I. The modied plunger I8 includes a bore 23". The needle 30' has a cubical protuberance 52 which fits in matching recesses 52 in the front member. The needle projects forwardly as at `52 from the protuberance and extends rearwardly therefrom as at 54 and extends into the bore 23,.

The ampule is prepared as previously described and for use the front member 35 is rotated, causing the tip 5| to pierce the diaphragm 29 on the piston plunger, thus placing the contents of the ampule in communication with the bore i 23', whence the contents of the ampule passes to and through the needle 3U'.

In Figs. 8 and 9 I show a further modification of my invention, wherein the ampule ll, the plunger I8" and the front member 35 are similar to those previously described except that the plunger I8 at they threaded forward portion thereof has a bore 6!! in which a vtube 6l is arranged. This tube BI communicates with a large bore 62 in the plunger I8. The front member has a bore 30" in which a needle 63 is arranged.

The needle includes a cubical protuberance 64, one-half of which is arranged in a matching recess 65 in the front Amember and the other half of whichis arranged in a similar recess 65 in the plunger I8. The protuberance serves to lock the plunger and front member together so that they will rotate when the front member turns, thus causing the threads on the plunger to advance along the piston stopper 25", and will cause the forward portion B6 of the tube 6l to pierce the diaphragm 29" on the piston stopper to thus place the contents of the ampule in communication with the needle, whence the medicament can pass to the bore 62 and thence to the needle 30". The use of the modifications is the same as previously described.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have invented a novel hypodermic syringe which may be economically manufactured and may readily be maintained sterile and wherein the syringe may very readily be placed in prepared condition.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my co-pending applications Serial Nos. 680,748, filed July 1, 1946, and 697,075, led September 14, 1946.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A syringe including amedicament holding ampule, said ampule jcomprising a cylindrical body having a closure at one end and a plunger slidable in said ampule, said plunger comprising an elongated body having a threaded inner end portion, said plunger having an axial bore therethrough, a piston stopper in said ampule, said piston stopper having a threaded recess, the plunger threads being adapted to engage the piston stopper threads, said piston stopper having a diaphragm closing the inner end of said threaded recess, the inner end of said plunger having a projecting, hollow, sharpened tip normally disposed in the threaded lrecess of said piston stopper and spaced from the diaphragm of the piston stopper, said plunger being rotatable relative to the piston stopper to cause the sharpened tip to pierce the piston stopper diaphragm to thereby place the hollow tip in communication with the contents of the ampule.

2. A syringe including a medicament holding ampule, said ampule comprising a cylindrical body, a closure at one end of said body, a plunger slidable in said ample, said plunger comprising an elongated body having a threaded inner end portion, said plunger having a bore therethrough, a piston stopper having a threaded recess, the plunger threads being adapted' to engage the piston stopper threads, means closing the inner end of said threaded recess, and a needle in the plunger bore and having an inner end normally disposed in the threaded recess of said piston stopper and spaced from the closing means of the piston stopper, said plunger being rotatable relative to the piston stopper to cause the inner end of the needle to pierce thepiston stopper diaphragm to thereby place the needle in communication with the contents ofthe ampule.

3. A syringe including a medicament holding ample, said ampule comprising a cylindrical body, a closure at one end of said body, a plunger slidable in said ampule, said plunger comprising a cylindrical tubular bo'dy having a threaded inner end portion, said plunger having a bore, a piston stopper in said ampule, said piston stopper having a threaded recess, the plunger threads being adapted to engage the piston stopper threads, said piston stopper slidably engaging the inner wall of the ampule, said piston stopper having means closing the inner end of said threaded recess, said plunger including a front member having a hole therethrough and a needle extending through said front member hole and through said plunger bore and having its inner end normally disposed in the threaded recess of said piston stopper and spaced from the closing means of the piston stopper, said plunger being rotatable relative to the piston stopper to cause the inner end of the needle to pierce the piston stopper closure means to thereby place the needle in communication with the contents of the ampule.

4. A syringe including a medicament holding ampule, said ampule comprising a cylindrical body, a closure at one end of said body, a plunger slidable in said ampule, said plunger'comprisin'g a cylindrical tubular body having a threaded asomar inner `end portion, said plunger-havingiamaxal gaging the inner-wallof theiampule,` said pistonstopper having a vdiaphragmvclosingsthe `inner endof said threaded recess,-a irontmemberon said plunger, saidfront member havingA 'anA axial hole therethrough, and a needle carriedbyvsaid front member andextending through the' axial hole and through said', plunger bore and having a sharpened inner end normally disposed in the threaded recess of said piston stopper and spaced from the diaphragm of the piston stopper, said plunger having a recess in the outer end thereof and said needle having a protuberance thereon disposed in said recess, said plunger being rotatable relative to the piston stopper to cause the inner end of the needle to advance to pierce the piston stopper diaphragm to thereby place the needle in communication with the contents of the ampule.

5. A syringe including a medicament holding ampule, said ampule comprising a cylindrical body, a closure at one end of said body, said closure having an axial recess therein with a diaphragm closing one end of said recess, a plunger slidable in said ampule, said plunger comprising a cylindrical body having a threaded inner end portion, said plunger having an axial bore therethrough, a piston stopper in said ampule, said piston stopper comprising a resilient body, said body having a threaded recess, the plunger threads being adapted to engage the piston stopper threads, said piston stopper havin'g spaced beads thereon, said spaced beads slidably engaging the inner Wall of the ampule, said piston stopper having an inner end recess therein with a diaphragm between said end recess and said threaded recess, a front member on said plunger, said front member having an axial hole therethrough, a needle carried by said front member and extending through said axial hole and said plunger bore and having a sharpened inner end extending beyond the plunger inner end and normally disposed in the threaded recess of said piston stopper and spaced from the diaphragm of the piston stopper, said plunger having a rectangular recess in the outer end thereof and said needle having a rectangular protuberance thereon disposed in said rectangular recess, said plunger being rotatable relative to the piston stopper to advance the plunger and to cause the inner end of the needle to pierce the piston stopper diaphragm to thereby place the needle in communication with the contents of the ampule- 6. A syringe including a medicament holding ampule, said ampule comprising a cylindrical body, a closure at one end of said body, and a plunger slidable in said ampule, said plunger comprising an elongated body having a threaded inner end portion terminating in a sharpened end, said plunger having an axial bore therethrough, a piston stopper in said ampule, said piston stopper having a threaded recess, the plunger threads being adapted to engage the piston stopper threads, said piston stopper having a diaphragm closingr the inner end of said threaded recess, a front member on said plunger, said front member having an axial hole therethrough, a needle carried by said front member and extending into said axial bore, the sharpened end of said plunger being normally disposed in the threaded recess of said piston stopper and spaced:fronthediaphragmrof:the piston stopper,

' saidplungerfbeingrotatable relativeitothe piston stopperto:causethe fsharpenedrfend` ofthe plunger to f pierce: `the-piston `diaphragm Vto thereby place thep1unger-bore1in communication ,with the contents otfthe ampule,' l

7. Avsyringe including a; medicament holdingv ampule,-:saldi ampule': comprising a. cylindrical body,iaiclosurei atzonetend of-saidibody, and-a plungerslidable .in-.said Vampule, said' plunger having a-threadedinner end-portion terminating a sharpenediend, -saiduplunger ,having an axial bore therethrough, avpistonstopper in saidr ampule, said piston stopper having a threaded recess adapted to engage the plunger threads, means closing the inner end of said threaded recess, a needle on said plunger and communicating with the plunger bore, the sharpened end of said plunger being normally disposed inl the threaded recess of said piston stopper and spaced from the closing means of the piston stopper recess, said plunger being rotatable relative to the piston stopper to cause the sharpened end of the plunger to pierce the recess closing means to thereby place the plunger bore in communication with the contents of the ampule.

8. A syringe including a medicament holding ampule, said ampule comprising a cylindrical body, a closure at one end of said body, and a plunger slidable in said ampule, said plunger comprising a cylindrical tubular body having a threaded inner end portion, said plunger having an axial bore therethrough, a piston stopper having a threaded recess, the plunger threads engaging the piston stopper threads, said piston stopper having a diaphragm closing the inner end of said threaded recess, a front member on said plunger, said front member having an axial hole therethrough, a needle carried by said front 'member and communicating with the front member hole, the inner end of said plunger including a sharpened hollow needle, means affording communication between the hollow needle tip and the front member needle, the hollow needle tip being normally disposed in the threaded recess of said piston stopper and spaced from the diaphragm of the piston stopper, said plunger being rotatable relative to the piston stopper to cause the sharpened hollow needle to pierce the plunger diaphragm to thereby place the hollow needle tip in communication with the contents of the ampule.

9. A syringe including a medicament holding ampule, said ampule comprising a cylindrical body, a closure at one end of said body, a plunger movable relative to and slidable in said ampule, said plunger comprising an elongated body having a threaded inner end portion, said plunger having a bore therethrough, a piston stopper having a threaded recess, the plunger threads being adapted to engage the piston stopper threads, means closing the inner end of said threaded recess, and a needle in the plunger bore and having an inner end normally disposed in the threaded recess of said piston stopper and spaced from the closing means of the piston stopper, said plunger being rotatable relative to the piston stopper to cause the inner end of the needle to pierce the piston stopper closing means to thereby place the needle in communication with the contents of the ampule,

10. A syringe including a medicament holding ampule, said ampule comprising a cylindrical body, a closure at one end of said body, a plunger movable relative to and slidable in said ampule,

said plunger comprising an elongated body having a threaded inner end portion and having its outer end portion seated within a needle holding member, said plunger and said needle holding member each having a coaxial bore therethrough, 5

a piston stopper having a threaded recess, the plunger threads being adapted 'to engage the piston stopper threads, means closing the inner end of said threaded recess, and a needle in the disposed in the needle holding member bore and/ extending beyond the outer end of said needle holding member, said plunger being rotatable re plunger bore, said needle having an inner end 10 both ends.

normally disposed in the threaded recess of said piston stopper and spaced from the closing means of the piston stopper and having an outer end ARTHUR E. SMITH.

No references cited. 

